Wesley Geer

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Wesley Harmon Geer Jr. (born October 28, 1974), also known as Wesstyle, is an American guitarist, best known as a founding member of the band Hed PE, formed in 1994 in Huntington Beach, CA. He was a guitarist, songwriter and producer in the band until his departure in 2003. Geer also toured with nu metal band Korn.[1]

Wesley Geer
Birth nameWesley Harmon Geer, Jr.
Also known asWesstyle, Wes Geer
Born (1974-10-28) October 28, 1974 (age 49)
Fullerton, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Guitarist
Years active1992–present
Formerly ofHed PE
Websitewesgeer.com

Biography edit

Geer was born in Fullerton, California. He met rapper and singer Jared Gomes,[2] while attending local music shows in Orange County, California during the 1990s. Together they formed the band Hed PE.[3][4]

Hed PE was signed by Jive Records, and toured with bands like Deftones.,[5] System of a Down, and Korn.[1] Chester Bennington (Linkin Park frontman) said this about Hed PE.: "they deserve worldwide recognition. They're a great live act, they make good albums, and they're awesome. They're not an easy act to open for or follow."[6]

Geer left the band in 2003, to adopt a different lifestyle, and took a job with Fusion Academy & Learning Center to teach music to children in grades 6–12.

In 2010, Geer joined Korn. He knew guitar player James "Munky" Shaffer since 1994. After lead guitar player Brian "Head" Welch left the band in 2005, Korn reached out to Geer; he toured and performed live as a guitar player for Korn since 2010, until 2013, when Welch returned to the band.[1]

Geer founded the band HU3M3N in 2021 with Clinton Calton, Matt Bartosch, and Scott Underwood from Train,[7] who was later replaced by Zac Morris on drums.

Wes Geer has performed on stage with artists like Papa Roach (Jimmy Kimmel, 2006[8]) Bob Schneider (Rock to Recovery Austin, 2019[9]), Moby (Rock to Recovery 3, 2018[10]), Shavo from System of a Down (Rock to Recovery 4, 2019[11]), Monte Pittman, musician for Madonna and Ministry (Rock to Recovery 5, 2022[12]),  Acey Slade from The Misfits (Rock to Recovery 5, 2022[12]), and Scott Underwood and Charlie Colin from Train (Rock to Recovery Ten Year Anniversary, 2022[13]). Geer also does public speaking about addiction, mental health and transformations.[14]

Rock To Recovery edit

In December 2012, Wes Geer started Rock to Recovery®, to provide therapeutic songwriting sessions for addicts.[15] Recovering addicts, victims of abuse, and troubled teens have the opportunity to express themselves through songs that are written by the participants in each session.[16] Each participant in the group forms a "band" with Rock to Recovery staff members (professional musicians in recovery), they write a song with recovery-based lyrics, and in the final session the song is recorded.[17]

In 2016, the Department of Defense granted Rock to Recovery an official contract, to work with the Air Force and Army Wounded Warriors.[18] Rock to Recovery Award Show was created in 2016.[19] The first award show, Rock to Recovery 1, the organization honored Mike Ness[20] and for Rock to Recovery 2, the non-profit honored Corey Taylor and Wayne Kramer.[21] Rock to Recovery 3 honored Moby,[10] Rock to Recovery 4 honored Katey Sagal and John Feldmann,[11] and Rock to Recovery® 5 honored Keith David and Jay Mohr.[12]

In 2021, Geer co-authored the book Rock to Recovery, Music as a Catalyst for Human Transformation Link,[22] which garnered a GOLD award in the Nonfiction Book Awards,[23] received an Award of Distinction in the Communicator Awards,[24] and won the music category in the National Indie Excellence Awards in 2022.[25] Geer was featured on the cover of Recovery Today in December 2022.[26]

Rock to Recovery® was awarded with the ASCAP Foundation's “Sunlight of the Spirit” Award in 2022.[27]

Discography edit

Hed P.E. edit

Korn edit

  • Digital EP #3 (2010)
  • The Path of Totality Tour – Live at the Hollywood Palladium (2012)

Other musical credits (with Hed PE) edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Highs and Lows – Entertainment / Neon". Lvrj.com. September 1, 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  2. ^ Scire, Dawn (March 14, 2003). "(hed) p.e.'s frontman touches down". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Sarasota, Florida. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  3. ^ Former N.W.A manager Otto Kaiserauer talks gangsta rap
  4. ^ Dillinger, Moses (January 24, 2011). "(HED) P.e". Beat Magazine. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
  5. ^ Prato, Greg. "Biography: Deftones". Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  6. ^ Epstein, Dan (July 20, 2018). "LINKIN PARK'S CHESTER BENNINGTON: THE LOST INTERVIEW". Revolver. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  7. ^ Levith, Will (July 28, 2021). "Ex-Train Drummer and Saratoga Native Scott Underwood Unveils New Band, HU3M3N". Saratoga Living. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  8. ^ Papa Roach - To Be Loved (Live At Jimmy Kimmel Live! 09/08/2006), retrieved March 26, 2023
  9. ^ "Rock To Recovery Austin – Rock To Recovery". Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Rock To Recovery 3 – Rock To Recovery". Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Rock To Recovery 4 – Rock To Recovery". Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  12. ^ a b c "Rock to Recovery 5 – Rock To Recovery". Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  13. ^ "10 Year Anniversary – Rock To Recovery". Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  14. ^ "November 2021 – Wes Geer". Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  15. ^ Lacy, David. "Former Korn guitarist shares the healing power of music." iPinion Syndicate. iPinion, March 31, 2014. Web. April 6, 2014. <http://ipinionsyndicate.com/16816/>.
  16. ^ "Huntington Beach Nonprofit Uses Musical Therapy to Help Recovering Opioid Addicts Stay Clean". KTLA. February 24, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  17. ^ "Corey Taylor To Rock For Recovery". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. August 7, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  18. ^ "Rock to Recovery serves as 'musical medicine' > Nellis Air Force Base > Features". nellis.af.mil. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  19. ^ "Former Korn Guitarist Wesley Geer Talks First Annual Rock to Recovery Benefit Concert". guitarworld. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  20. ^ "WES GEER – Rockin' To Recovery and Changing The World – Screamer Magazine". Screamer Magazine. August 31, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  21. ^ Kreps, Daniel (August 5, 2017). "All-Star Rock to Recovery 2 to Honor Corey Taylor, MC5's Wayne Kramer". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  22. ^ "Book – Rock To Recovery". Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  23. ^ Finarelli, Amberly (March 14, 2022). "BOOK AWARD WINNER: ROCK TO RECOVERY: MUSIC AS A CATALYST FOR HUMAN TRANSFORMATION". Nonfiction Authors Association. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  24. ^ "Winner's List". Communicator Awards. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  25. ^ "16th Annual Winners | National Indie Excellence Awards | California". indie-excellence. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  26. ^ "the MAGAZINE | Recovery Today Magazine". Recovery Today. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  27. ^ "The ASCAP Foundation "Sunlight of the Spirit" Award". ascapfoundation.org. March 25, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.